The next thing was to get the ports into working
order again as a preliminary to the resumption
of economic life. Some months ago we had begun
to consider the question of relief and
rehabilitation of British subjects and we had
secured the services of Sir Allan Mossop to work
out detailed plans. The idea had been that Sir
Allan Mossop should first survey the problem in
London with Govern ent Departments and outside
bodies concerned and then go out to Chungking
armed with the necessary material and see what
was the best set-up in Chine. A paper had been
drawn up in the Foreign Office last January giving
all data then available. Since then, we had
received further information from China.
Majesty's Embassy at Chungking had put forward a
proposal for an Economic Liaison officer to be
the link between all British organisations, civil
and Military, in Chungking and the American
Department 0-5 whose functions had been fully
described in Chungking despatch No. 705 (F 4125/
88/10) of the 26th June. The original idea
was that there would be one officer with
economic knowledge, attached to General Hayes
staff, who would supply G-5 with information
about British interests and properties and
keep us informed of C-5's plans. The War
Office had told the Foreign Office that the
establishment of such a post had now been
approved.
MAJOR STORIES. War Office, stated that Mr.
Ofilvie, formerly of the Shanghai. Waterworks
Company, was being considered for the post but
no actual appointment had yet been made.
24
A